During this year’s Art Basel in Miami Beach the BMW Group will present the world premiere of “FRANCHISE FREEDOM – a flying sculpture by Studio Drift in partnership with BMW” created by Amsterdam-based artists Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta.
After sunset on Wednesday 6 December, 300 illuminated drones will simulate a flock of birds above the ocean and beach. ArtReview is previewing Studio Drift’s project, ahead of the performance on Wednesday
“FRANCHISE FREEDOM – a flying sculpture by Studio Drift in partnership with BMW” is a performative artwork at the interface between technology, science, and art. An autonomous flying swarm of 300 drones, each equipped with a light source, will imitate the natural phenomenon of a flock on December 6, 9 PM on the beach of Miami above the sea between 32nd and 33rd Street, behind the Faena Hotel Miami Beach. This is the first time that a flock on this scale is presented by machines working with decentralised algorithms. Inspired by the spectacle of starlings clustering together in massive flocks and exposing the tension between individual freedom and safety in numbers, Studio Drift questions the delicate balance between the group and the individual. Studio Drift’s first research on this project dates back to 2007. To create “FRANCHISE FREEDOM”, Studio Drift studied the natural flight patterns of starlings and translated them into software that were specially developed and embedded in the drones.
In celebration of Art Basel in Miami Beach 2017, Studio Drift, BMW, Future\Pace as well as Faena will premiere “FRANCHISE FREEDOM”. The private inaugural performance and event will take place on the evening of Wednesday, December 6, on the beach of Faena Hotel with additional performances, weather permitting, throughout the week, time and date will be shared on Instagram by Studio Drift @studio.drift and by BMW on Facebook #bmwgroupculture.
